TALMUD TORAH-----bein hazmanim eitzos

FEIVEL Posted - 27 June 2000 12:23

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I am a kid who just left school for the summer, and even during the year, my learning habits are not steady. When I learn, I learn well, but I wanted advice as to how to set myself into a summer seder (until I go to eretz yisroel (in 2 weeks)).

If anyone has any suggestions, post them, Moderator-you are always very knowledgeable, please post any thoughts you might have

MODERATOR Posted - 28 June 2000 11:54

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I assume you’re not going to be in a camp or other type of structured environment that will have “learning groups”, but rather on your own with the freedom to learn as much or as little as you want.

It’s more a matter of self discipline than strategy. You have to set aside a specified amount of time each day (that’s better than setting aside time for a specified amount of learning, like X pages of Gemora), and stick to it. A few things, though:

1) Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Everyone needs a break from their regular sedorim to rest up and “sharpen the saw”. Remember that if the purpose of your break is to refresh yourself to learn better after the summer, then the break itself is considered as if you were learning.

2) The amount of mandatory learning depends on the abilities and “zitzfleish’ of the individual (see Ohr Someach, Hilchos Talmud Torah). So you have to know your own abilities and limits here.

3) I would recommend trying to learn something different than you do during the year – either a Gemora in a mesechta that you would never cover in Yeshiva, or perhaps even not Gemora. Halachah b’iyun – i.e. Shulchan Aruch with the Nosei Keylim, looking up the sources for the Halachos in the Gemora as you learn them – could be very appealing.

4) In Gemora, learn a bit faster and less b’iyun than you do in Yeshiva – during the summer you’ll cover precious little if you learn at a Yeshivishe pace.

5) Besides your “main” seder, you should also set aside time to learn Hashkafa. Depending on your level, you can try something from the Ramchal’s Derech Hashem or Rav Chaim Volozhen’s Nefesh HaChaim, to Rabbi Avigdor Miller’s “Rejoice O Youth”. Learn the Halachah in the morning, and the Hashkafa in the evening – it’s easier that way.

6) GET A CHAVRUSA, even for the Hashkafa part. But at least in the morning. This is important. It’s even worth learning something other than your first choice if you can get a Chavrusa. It will help you both in your learning and in keeping your sedorim.

7) The main thing is to find something that YOU LIKE. “l’olam yilmad adam mah shelibo chofetz”. You have little power over the curriculum in Yeshiva but in the summer, you can learn something you always wanted to but never had the chance – whatever that may be. If you don’t want to learn what you’re learning, you will probably not keep your sedorim.